Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Monday it had developed a new way of making semiconductors that could get around its U.S.-enforced lack of access to the most advanced chipmaking equipment. Huawei has in recent years been at the centre of a geopolitical standoff after Washington warned its
World Tarot Day 2026: The most misunderstood tarot cards and what they actually meanPeople tarot as entertainment or fear it because of the dramatic social media readings. But tarot was never meant to work through fear; it is a symbolic tool. Updated on: May 25
From mirrors to mood lighting, these 5 budget-friendly decor tricks can make small homes look surprisingly luxuriousWant to upgrade your home into a luxurious space? Here are some budget-friendly decor ideas you can consider for a beautiful home. Published on: May 25
A Bahraini court sentenced nine defendants to life in prison and two others to three years in jail for collaborating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out what it described as “hostile and terrorist acts” against Bahrain
Tarot vs Astrology: Which one can predict your future better? An expert breaks it downAstrology explains cosmic timing and patterns. Tarot explains your emotional experience of those patterns. One gives you the map, the other acts like a mirror. Updated on: May 25
The Japanese fruit ‘sando’ is becoming India’s favourite summer dessert; take a look With fluffy milk bread, clouds of whipped cream, and jewel-like slices of fresh fruit tucked inside, the Japanese sando has become India’s go-to dessert Updated on: May 25
Madhuri Dixit serves ‘a little bit of drama’ as she gives classic white saree a modern twist with chic jacketMadhuri Dixit proves age is just a number as she stuns in ivory saree with floral prints, layered with a sleek jacket, blending elegance with modern drama. Published on: May 25
3 elephant calves die within 17 days in Chhattisgarh’s DharamjaigarhEight elephant calves have died in Dharamjaigarh forest division over the past five months due to drowning, getting trapped in marshland, etc Published on: May 25, 2026 1:27 PM IST By Ritesh Mishra Share via Copy link Three
Republicans hyped Epstein files for long. Now Trump is under pressure to deliver
WASHINGTON: What began as a campaign-trail promise to release the Jeffrey Epstein files has become one of the most fraught tests of President Donald Trump's second term — opening a rift in his political coalition and raising the stakes for an administration now under intense pressure to produce documents that may fall far short of public expectations.
The issue came to a head this week. After months of efforts by the Trump administration to quash it, both chambers of Congress passed a measure forcing the release of the Epstein files with near-unanimous support. Trump, who changed course days before the vote to bless the effort, signed the legislation Wednesday, starting a 30-day window for the Justice Department to deliver the records.
Expectations are sky-high, fueled by years of conspiracy theories promoted by many now in Trump's orbit. Yet with some claims — such as a rumored “client list” of prominent men linked to Epstein — already deemed nonexistent by federal officials, the antiestablishment coalition Trump built in part by elevating those theories is showing cracks that may widen with the anticipated release.
“Watching this actually turn into a fight has ripped MAGA apart,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said this week, flanked by Epstein survivors ahead of the House vote.
“The only thing that will speak to the powerful, courageous women behind me is when action is actually taken to release these files,” said Greene, who announced late Friday that she will resign from Congress in January. “And the American people won't tolerate any other bulls—-.”
Epstein's abuse and 2019 death in a New York jail cell have generated conspiracy theories for years, especially on the political right.
On the campaign trail, Trump expressed openness to releasing the investigative documents, nodding to anti-establishment demands to open up the government's files on other high-profile cases such as the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
But once Trump was back in office, divulging records from the federal investigations, as well as satisfying the appetites of conspiracy theorists, became less appealing. Attorney General Pam Bondi raised expectations of a full release, only to reverse course over the summer. Her attempt to close the book on the Epstein saga outraged many on the right.
It was the first sign of a rift in Trump's coalition, and Democrats took notice.
In Congress, they began looking for ways to force Republicans to take votes on releasing the Epstein files. Eventually, they found traction with two tracks: initiating an investigation in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and putting full support behind a rarely successful petition that maneuvers around the House speaker's control of which bills see the floor.
The Democratic effort, joined by a few key Republicans, including Greene, culminated last week in passage of the bill with overwhelming support from both chambers of Congress. It was a sign that the Epstein files had risen from the realm of obscure conspiracy theorists to a political force that neither political party could deny.
Still, it's not clear whether the complete files will be released — or that the public interest in them will ever be satisfied.
At a Tuesday press conference ahead of the House vote, the bill's sponsors — Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., joined Greene and several Epstein survivors in warning the administration not to hold anything back.
“The real test will be whether the Department of Justice releases the files, or whether it all remains tied up in investigations,” Greene said, adding that whether a list of names is released “will be the real test.”
While Bondi in February said on Fox News that an Epstein “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now to review,” her department has since reversed course, saying such a list doesn't exist. In a letter this July, the Justice Department said its review uncovered no incriminating “client list.”
It's one example of how the Trump administration helped build hype for the release of files — and a reminder of the political danger in being unable to deliver the material his coalition has long believed is hidden.
Before Congress got involved, tens of thousands of pages of records were released over the years through civil lawsuits, Epstein and Maxwell's public criminal case dockets, public disclosures and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Lawmakers believe there are reams more of documents, but they have received little indication that the Department of Justice is ready to put out that information despite a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee that was issued in August.
Khanna said he still has concerns about how fully the administration will comply, but he believes passage of the bill, and the possibility of contempt of Congress, gives lawmakers leverage. He declined to speculate about who might appear in the files but said he expects whistleblowers to emerge if anything is withheld.
“The president has realized, as Marjorie Taylor Greene said, that this is splitting his MAGA base,” Khanna said.
“It would be foolish for him to have a drip, drip, drip fight. I mean, if he wants to fight over Epstein the remainder of his presidency, I suppose we can. But that's not really smart.”
Khanna, a Silicon Valley progressive with aspirations for higher office, hopes the Epstein fight will evolve into a broader movement, describing it as a modern version of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's “forgotten class against the economic royalists.”
“This is a forgotten America against the Epstein class,” Khanna said in an interview.
“There's a real anger at an elite that people think are out of touch and taking away control over the lives,” he added.
As Democrats look for ways to reconnect with working-class voters, Khanna thinks the party should pursue causes like the Epstein files. He has already begun discussions with Massie, Greene and others about teaming up again.
“This crack,” Khanna said of the Epstein vote, is the “answer to taking on Trump.”
Source: Hindustan Times
Related Posts: Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 2 spoilers take over internet as show releases Instagram to notify parents if teens repeatedly search for suicide-related terms Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal’s Welcome To The Jungle To Release On THIS Date Empathising with Iran must recognise the internal struggle against religious despotism Petals, Cheers & Controversy As Lalu Yadav Hits Bihar Campaign Trail, Brings Danapur To A Halt They Began Lowering Their Weapons Lisa Ray Reveals Her Career Began In Grief After Mother Was Left Paralyzed Four killed, 44 injured in Russia’s largest drone strike on Ukraine since war began 90 ships crossed Hormuz since war began Shutdowns began as a way to enforce federal law
The Canadian Grand Prix was the race in which the Formula 1 title battle finally came alive this year. It was also, however, the race in which it took a potentially decisive turn, putting a huge dent in George Russell's hopes of beating his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the
1 days ago
CBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window ends today, direct link hereCBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window will close today, May 25, 2026. The direct link to apply is given here. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
Microsoft techie couple in Noida breaks down ₹1.6 lakh monthly expenses, says city feels balanced despite rising costsA Microsoft couple in Noida revealed they spent around ₹1.6 lakh monthly while balancing work, lifestyle and family needs. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
A CBSE Class 12 student has raised serious concerns over the board’s re-evaluation process after claiming the Physics answer sheet uploaded under his roll number does not belong to him. The student shared comparisons of multiple answer sheets and demanded an urgent investigation into the alleged
1 days ago
Thyroid disorder cases have been gradually rising over the past few years, especially in younger adults and the younger working generations. Even though genes and autoimmune disorders play a role, the way we live our lives is becoming a reason for thyroid problems. We speak to Dr Aravind Badiger
1 days ago
Sandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 yearsSandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 years Published on: May 25, 2026 1:47 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Rinkven , Indian golfer Yuvraj Sandhu endured a difficult final day to finish T-63 at the Soudal Open here
1 days ago
Mumbai's old building redevelopment market grows 16% in 2025; Momentum continues in 2026: DataMumbai real estate: A total of 1,094 development agreements (DAs) were signed between January 2020 and March 15, 2026, according to data from Knight Frank India Published on: May 25
1 days ago
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued statewide directions on Bakrid across the state. In a meeting with officials, Adityanath reviewed the festival’s preparedness and also looked into Ganga Dussehra arrangements and actions against illegal activities
1 days ago
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek will make permanent a 75% price cut on its flagship V4-Pro artificial intelligence model, keeping prices at a quarter of their original level, the company said in a statement on Saturday. DeepSeek did not disclose whether the permanent
1 days ago
For years, carbohydrates have been put on trial in the fitness world. Scroll through social media, and you will find countless posts blaming carbs for weight gain, sluggishness, and poor fitness results. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts respond by cutting carbs drastically
1 days ago
‘Work culture is not hell’: Man who worked in Europe, UK, Canada and US says Bengaluru’s real problem is commuteA man claimed Bengaluru’s commute, not work culture, is the real reason many professionals feel exhausted. Published on: May 25, 2026 10:56 AM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share
1 days ago
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last league outing has brought the curtain down on the top-two battle in IPL 2026, with both finalists now officially confirmed. Although RCB walked away on the losing side
1 days ago
, which has a global market capitalisation of $343 billion, has advocated modernising India’s power grid to help drive the country’s AI dream, underscoring the intricate linkages and dependencies across multiple domains and utilities crucial to acing the technology that's now grabbing 80% of
1 days ago
Aishwarya Rai's stylist gets emotional about dressing 'icon' for her high-stakes Cannes return: 'What a week it’s been'Stylist Mohit Rai hails Aishwarya Rai as Cannes ‘legend’, silencing critics with a masterclass in avant-garde couture: ‘Showing the children how it’s done’
1 days ago
Uttar Pradesh groom murder main accused killed in police ‘encounter’Police said Ravi Yadav, the accused, who carried a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head, was on a motorcycle when he was asked to stop during vehicle checking Published on: May 25, 2026 10:54 AM IST By HT Correspondent Share via
1 days ago
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts has announced the birth of her first child. In a social media post, the singer, 40, said her daughter had "arrived healthy and content a couple of weeks ago at 38 weeks" and was "thriving". Photos from her Instagram account show the star holding her baby
1 days ago
Uber's board met on Saturday to discuss raising its offer for after a major shareholder rebuffed Uber's bid that would value the German food delivery group at over 11.5 billion euros ($13.39 billion), the Financial Times reported on Sunday
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Looking for a compact bedroom air purifier? Here's why Qubo R250 is a solid choiceThe compact Qubo R250 punches above its weight with rapid HEPA filtration and smooth smart controls
1 days ago
May 25 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for you this yearIf your birthday falls on May 25, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: May 25, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 25
1 days ago
Opposition parties in Kerala accused the Congress of double standards after Kerala’s former chief electoral officer assumed charge as the secretary to Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Sunday, PTI reported. Rathan U Kelkar, a 2003-batch Kerala cadre Indian Administrative Services officer
1 days ago
In late April, India's Sun Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $11.75bn (£8.59bn) to acquire New York-listed women's health and biosimilars firm Organon & Co. It marked the biggest overseas acquisition by an Indian company in nearly two decades and followed a string of high-profile international deals
1 days ago
‘Laughed at me, called me stupid’: Founder of AI data collection firm on Pronto CEO Anjali SardanaHuman Archive founder Rushil Agarwal has taken a swipe at Pronto's Anjali Sardana amid the row around the Bengaluru startup recording inside customers’ homes Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
In the English translation of Franz Kafka’s short story, Metamorphosis, published in 2007, Michel Hofmann translated the famous opening line (which included the German word “Ungeziefer”, generically meaning insect) in this manner: “When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams
1 days ago
Marco Rubio visits Taj Mahal in Agra with wife Jeanette | VideoAfter the Agra visit, he is scheduled to continue his trip to Jaipur later in the day. Updated on: May 25, 2026 10:46 AM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link US secretary of state Marco Rubio visited the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday
1 days ago
Full Moon May 2026: Astrologer shares how this intense Blue Moon might impact your zodiac signAccording to astrologer Sidhharrth S Kumaar, every zodiac sign could experience this lunar energy differently. Here's what this Blue Moon may mean for you. Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
Cardiologist reveals the real cause of heart attacks that most people overlook and it’s not just ‘bad cholesterol’Could your gut health be affecting your heart? A cardiologist explains how inflammation, poor sleep, stress, and unhealthy habits may raise heart attack risk. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
Turkish riot police fired tear gas and forced their way into the main opposition party’s headquarters to evict its ousted leadership on Sunday (May 24, 2026), deepening a crisis at the heart of Turkiye’s democracy. Clouds of tear gas billowed within the Republican People’s Party
1 days ago
